Researchers from academic institutions in the United States conducted a study that found cannabis use by middle-aged and older people is positively related to brain volume in certain regions and cognitive function. The study’s results were published by the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.
The UK Biobank contains data on the health of over 500,000 adults. We evaluated associations between cannabis usage, regional cerebral volume and cognition for participants aged 40 to 69 (mean = 54.5). The researchers have written about their method.
Cannabis opponents and mainstream media, in the past, have consistently portrayed cannabis users and their use as stupid and harmful to the brain. A growing body of research shows that this is not true for adult cannabis users.
“Lifetime Cannabis Use was Positively Associated with Regional Brain Volume in CB1 Rich Regions, including the Caudate, Putamen, Hippocampus, and Amygdala. A greater lifetime cannabis use was also associated with better performance in terms of learning, processing speed and short-term memories. Individuals who reported only using cannabis during adolescence showed greater regional volumes and improved cognitive performance compared to nonusers. “Sex differences were observed in the effects of cannabis on brain volume and cognition.” Researchers found.
The results show that cannabis can have different effects on brain health across the lifespan. It may offer protection in later life, while it poses risks in early development. Protective effects may result from endocannabinoid-mediated modulation of inflammation, immune function, and neurodegeneration. The observed sex difference likely reflects variation in the body’s endocannabinoid systems and highlights the importance of including sex in studies on cannabis and brain health. The researchers concluded.
In a previous study, a Colombian team of investigators examined the use by Alzheimer’s sufferers with neuropsychiatric symptomatology of CBD oil. The authors of the report found that CBD is both safe and efficient, and helps mitigate cognitive decline.
In Brazil, another study also investigated CBD and cognitive function. The authors of the study found that CBD therapy does not negatively impact cognitive performance, and could potentially improve it for certain patients.
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